ITEM: Polyhedron weight
MATERIAL: Bronze
CULTURE: Byzantine
PERIOD: 10th - 13th Century A.D
DIMENSIONS: 15 mm x 20 mm
CONDITION: Good condition
PROVENANCE: Ex English private collection, London, acquired between 1980s

Comes with Certificate of Authenticity and Export Licence. If you are from outside the European Union, we will have to apply for the export licence again for your country, this takes 3 to 5 weeks and has a cost of 5% of the hammer price, this amount will be added to the final invoice.

Polyhedron weights were common in the Byzantine period as a means of measuring and standardizing the weight of various goods for trade and commerce. These weights were typically small, geometrically shaped objects made of materials such as bronze, lead, or stone, and they were often inscribed with numerical markings indicating their weight. Polyhedron weights took on various forms, including cubes, octahedrons, dodecahedrons, and other geometric shapes, each with a specific weight value corresponding to its size and density.

The use of polyhedron weights in Byzantine commerce helped ensure fairness and accuracy in transactions by providing a standardized system of measurement. Merchants and traders relied on these weights to determine the value of goods such as precious metals, grains, and other commodities, facilitating trade and economic exchange within the Byzantine Empire and beyond. Polyhedron weights were also used in official capacities, such as tax collection, where they played a crucial role in assessing duties and tariffs based on the weight of goods.

Polyhedron weights are frequently found in archaeological contexts throughout the Byzantine Empire, providing valuable insights into Byzantine trade networks, economic activity, and material culture. The inscriptions and markings on polyhedron weights often include information